Clacton on sea

The seafront at Clacton-on-Sea stretches for miles, all pebbled beach and proper seaside nonsense - candy floss stalls, amusement arcades, a pier that's been there since 1873. It's the sort of place that gets a bit battered by the Essex weather, but that's rather the point. You come here to feel the wind, eat chips from paper, maybe have a go on the dodgems.

The pier itself is free to wander onto, though rides and attractions cost money. It's not fancy - that's not what it's trying to be. Families with young kids will find enough here to kill a couple of hours: the arcade, a small funfair, the novelty of being on a proper seaside pier. Teenagers might find it tame. Walking types will get more from striding along the beach itself, particularly if you head east towards St Osyth - less crowded, proper coastal views.

Worth visiting? If you're already staying at one of the nearby holiday parks - Parkdean's Valley Farm is barely half a mile away - then absolutely. It's free to look round, costs nothing to watch the sea, and there's a decent fish and chip shop on the front. Allow two or three hours if you're going on rides, an hour if you're just having a wander and a coffee. Don't expect anything glamorous. Come for the genuine, slightly worn-at-the-edges charm of British seaside life.